VASCO Data Security Announces DIGIPASS 836: An Optical Smart Card Reader With Replaceable Batteries

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. and ZURICH, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VASCO Data Security International, Inc. (Nasdaq: VDSI; www.vasco.com), a leading software security company specializing in strong authentication products, launches DIGIPASS 836, a smart card reader with an optical interface and replaceable batteries. With this optimized optical card reader VASCO increasingly meets the demand of banks for efficient solutions with minimal impact on the environment helping them to reduce their ecological footprint.

DIGIPASS 836 offers a solution against man-in-the-PC and man-in-the-browser based fraud. All transaction data are displayed in the trusted environment of the card reader. Transaction data are validated with a mandatory "OK" push on the button by the end-user.

The optical interface is a feature that automatically downloads data from the PC display on to DIGIPASS 836. This feature increases the end-user acceptance dramatically since a data transfer is completed within a few seconds. The interface does not require any software or driver as the communication is established through a flashing pattern on the user's PC - Javascript based -) and the sensors of DIGIPASS 836.

Additionally, DIGIPASS 836 helps banks overcome the barriers usually associated with implementing an e-signature solution. DIGIPASS 836 enhances internet banking security with signature patterns adhering to bank security requirements or transaction risk level. The transaction type and its transaction field labels are identified via the contextual challenge/starting code issued to the trusted DIGIPASS 836. The user simply enters the challenge and approves the transaction as displayed on his DIGIPASS 836. No more social engineering attacks because of signing unidentified data: What the end-user sees is really what he means to sign.

DIGIPASS 836 is self-explanatory in use; its new design further enhances user-friendliness. DIGIPASS 836 allows the use of larger character sets to be displayed on the screen to improve readability. If required by the end-user, OTP and e-signature codes can be magnified and displayed using the full size of the screen. Both features add to the user-friendliness for elderly people, considering electronic banking has become extremely popular with the elderly.

DIGIPASS 836 combines smart card reader functions, such as one-time password and electronic signature with EMV-CAP compliance (Europay – Mastercard – Visa Chip Authentication Program), PLA (PIN-less authentication- Perso-less authentication) and German HHD 1.4. DIGIPASS 836 can help banks to add strong authentication to their retail channels in a cost effective way by leveraging the bank's existing investments in an EMV infrastructure.

"Online banking security always considers security, cost and user-friendliness. With DIGIPASS 836 we have further enhanced the user-friendliness while taking upcoming environmental concerns into consideration without compromising the high level of security," says Jan Valcke, President and COO at VASCO Data Security.

The product is available for delivery to customers from end of Q3.

More information about DIGIPASS 836 on www.vasco.com/products/digipass/digipass_readers/digipass_800_range/digipass_836.aspx

About VASCO

VASCO is a leading supplier of strong authentication and e-signature solutions and services specializing in Internet security applications and transactions. VASCO has positioned itself as a global software company for Internet security serving a customer base of more than 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries, including more than 1,700 international financial institutions. VASCO's prime markets are the financial sector, enterprise security, e-commerce and e-government.

Forward Looking Statements:

Statements made in this news release that relate to future plans, events or performances are forward-looking statements. Any statement containing words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "intend," "mean," "potential" and similar words, is forward-looking, and these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations. Consequently, actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. 

Reference is made to VASCO's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further information regarding VASCO and its operations.

This document may contain trademarks of VASCO Data Security International, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including VASCO, the VASCO "V" design, DIGIPASS, VACMAN, aXsGUARD and IDENTIKEY.

For more information contact:
Jochem Binst, +32 2 609 97 00, [email protected]

SOURCE VASCO Data Security